Before you publish: Middle East and North Africa legal pre-publication review guide for journalists - Thomson Reuters Foundation

Home
About Us
About
We are a global non-profit organisation advancing democratic and institutional resilience, and social cohesion.
Our People
Partner With Us
Careers
Annual Reports & Accounts
Our Work
Our Work
We work to strengthen information integrity, protect civil society and advance responsible business practices, through supporting independent media, access to law, and fair work & responsible AI.
Resilience of Independent MediaBolstering independent media that inform the public and uphold democracy.
Access to LawEnabling a fair legal system that is accessible to all to strengthen civic space
Responsible BusinessSupporting businesses to thrive whilst doing no harm.
Our Services
Our Services
Through free legal assistance, data platforms, news, media development and events, our unique services foster free, fair and informed societies.
Media Development ServicesProviding capacity-building support to journalists and newsrooms.
TrustLawThe world’s largest pro bono legal network.
Legal Service for Independent MediaProviding free legal services to support independent media.
AI Company Data InitiativeBuilding a dataset to drive responsible corporate AI adoption.
Workforce Disclosure InitiativeProviding data on how companies manage workers in their operations and supply chains.
JournalismOur journalism provides news and analysis to purpose driven professionals
TrainingDiscover our range of training programmes and opportunities.
Trust ConferenceOur flagship forum dedicated to tackling critical and intersecting global issues from democracy to sustainable development.
Training & Resources
Training & Resources
Discover our range of training programmes and repository of resources.
Live training opportunitiesExplore our training programmes for professionals and civil society.
Bespoke training optionsDiscover the bespoke journalism, communications and media training programmes we can offer.
Resources & PublicationsOur library of reports and practical guides.
Featured
From intent to impact: 2025 global insights from the Workforce Disclosure Initiative
Download the report
News & Events
News & Events
Discover highlights from across the Foundation’s focus areas, key announcements and our events.
Foundation News
Events
Newsletter sign up
Featured
4-5 November
Trust Conference
2026

Home
About Us

Back
About
We are a global non-profit organisation advancing democratic and institutional resilience, and social cohesion.
About Us Our People Partner With Us Careers Annual Reports & Accounts
Our Work

Back
Our Work
We work to strengthen information integrity, protect civil society and advance responsible business practices, through supporting independent media, access to law, and fair work & responsible AI.
Our Work Resilience of Independent MediaBolstering independent media that inform the public and uphold democracy.Access to LawEnabling a fair legal system that is accessible to all to strengthen civic spaceResponsible BusinessSupporting businesses to thrive whilst doing no harm.
Our Services

Back
Our Services
Through free legal assistance, data platforms, news, media development and events, our unique services foster free, fair and informed societies.
Our Services Media Development ServicesProviding capacity-building support to journalists and newsrooms.TrustLawThe world’s largest pro bono legal network.Legal Service for Independent MediaProviding free legal services to support independent media.AI Company Data InitiativeBuilding a dataset to drive responsible corporate AI adoption.Workforce Disclosure InitiativeProviding data on how companies manage workers in their operations and supply chains.JournalismOur journalism provides news and analysis to purpose driven professionalsTrainingDiscover our range of training programmes and opportunities.Trust ConferenceOur flagship forum dedicated to tackling critical and intersecting global issues from democracy to sustainable development.
Training & Resources

Back
Training & Resources
Discover our range of training programmes and repository of resources.
Training & Resources Live training opportunitiesExplore our training programmes for professionals and civil society.Bespoke training optionsDiscover the bespoke journalism, communications and media training programmes we can offer.Resources & PublicationsOur library of reports and practical guides.Featured
From intent to impact: 2025 global insights from the Workforce Disclosure Initiative
Download the report
News & Events

Back
News & Events
Discover highlights from across the Foundation’s focus areas, key announcements and our events.
News & Events Foundation News Events Newsletter sign up Featured 4-5 November
Trust Conference
2026

This Guide aims to assist journalists in the Middle East and North Africa in minimising their legal liability before publication, and ensuring that they may raise a reasonable defence before a court to avoid unfair legal sanctions.

It is sub-divided into nine sections with a legal thematic focus, each section containing questions and explainers for legal terms which help elaborate the context underpinning each question:

Journalistic Ethics and Best Practices
Defamation and Insult
Privacy
Data Protection
Confidentiality and Information Gathering
Copyright
AI and the Media
Safeguarding and Protection of Children, Vulnerable Individuals and Sources
Other legal considerations

This Guide is available in Arabic and English to make the information accessible to as many journalists in the MENA region as possible.

You can learn more about our free legal service for civil society organisations, social enterprises and non-profit independent media, and sign up for TrustLaw membership.

Download report

Language*

Download

Details

Countries

Middle East and North Africa

Languages

EnglishArabic

Tags

Journalism Legal support Media at risk

Related resources

For journalists

Legal guidelines on the use of AI in newsrooms (Kenya and Tanzania)

These legal guidelines aim to…

For journalists

Casebook for newsroom AI prototypes and governance

This casebook documents what six small and mid-size newsrooms…

For journalists

Know your rights guide for journalists covering protests in the U.S.

A guide for journalists in the…

For journalists

AI use and best practice policy for newsrooms – Argentina

A practical guide which provides…

For journalists

AI use and best practice policy for newsrooms – Uruguay

A practical guide which provides newsrooms…

For journalists

Weaponising the law: Threats to media freedom in South Africa

The legal threats eroding South Africa’s…

For businesses

The global impact of the EU AI Act

This report is essential reading for business leaders navigating AI governance…

A New Generation of Laws Is Restricting Civic Space in Latin America

Civil society is under…

For civil society organisations

A Practical Guide to Copyright Claims

This resource will allow CSOs and newsrooms to understand and comply with U.S….

For civil society organisationsFor journalists

Know your workers rights: Lithuania

This guide provides an overview of the different types of worker contracts applicable in…

Discover more

About us

Learn about our mission and what makes us different.

Our work

Find out how we’re working to support independent journalism, strengthen access to the law and promote responsible business.

Partner with us

Discover our latest partnership opportunities and how to get involved in our work.